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Jun 2008

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4,452

Originally Posted by Oviedo

Or perhaps Jones can rush the passer in other ways than just a "bull rush" using speed and agility. Harrison's technique is probably a contributing reason his back problems. IMO a "speed rush" can be more disruptive than just pushing the OT in a straight line towards the QB.

Exactly.
Who needs to as strong as JH when you can use your renowned 4.8 sprinter speed to beat a blocker.

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Using both rookie Jarvis Jones and veteran Jason Worilds seems inevitable for the Steelers' defense, and whichever one starts won't make a difference.

Len Pasquarelli recently ran with the notion of Steelers rookie outside linebacker Jarvis Jones getting the starting nod, mostly based on the idea of Jones being a "pure" outside linebacker, unlike Jason Worilds and LaMarr Woodley and many others - converted college defensive ends drafted much lower than the 17th overall pick.

Is this a question of his familiarity with starting a play on two feet instead of a three-point stance?

The height of the developmental ceilings for Jones and Worilds (the main competitors for the Steelers' starting right outside linebacker position) is something that can be debated, likely with Jones getting an advantage, but let's not dismiss the simple notion of using multiple players.

Just not at the same time.

If Worilds is clearly inferior to Jones athletically but holds an advantage in understanding the defense, and Jones has clear physical ability but his knowledge of the outside linebacker position comes from simpler college schemes, then why can't they be used in "situational football," as Steelers coach Mike Tomlin often says?

It's easy to paint what will likely be the most often-discussed position battle this training camp as being as simple as Worilds vs. Jones, but this seems more like "Tomlin/Dick LeBeau/Keith Butler vs. The Game of Football." Put the head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in a lab for an offseason, and see what kinds of packages they can create to put both of them on the field at the same time.

It doesn't seem to make sense that Worilds is so easily replaceable that his snap count can be dropped to Steve McLendon-in-2012 levels, while Jones simply takes over. Jones is a relentless pass rusher with underrated coverage skills. Add in the pass rush ability of McLendon (another quiet weapon for the Steelers this year), the Steelers very well could take on a look like the San Francisco 49ers -- lots of different looks with many of them out of a nickel package, counting on pressure from different combinations of 2-4 looks.

If that's the first play of the game, thus anointing Jones a "starter," then so be it. It seems more likely the Steelers will go deeper in their front seven than they have in recent years, and Jones and Worilds will certainly both be a part of that plan.

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May 2008

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Here's my thought. I HOPE Worilds lives up to expectations. I HOPE Jones is as advertised and they find a way to get him on the field. That would be "best case" scenario. That would be a win-win. I don't think Jones will have enough playing strength to beat out Worilds as a starter but I do think he will show enough to get on the field in sub packages.

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Originally Posted by JUST-PLAIN-NASTY

Here's my thought. I HOPE Worilds lives up to expectations. I HOPE Jones is as advertised and they find a way to get him on the field. That would be "best case" scenario. That would be a win-win. I don't think Jones will have enough playing strength to beat out Worilds as a starter but I do think he will show enough to get on the field in sub packages.

DimeWoodley-Keisel-JonesTimmons-WorildsTaylor-Allen-Polamalu-Clark-(DVD,Brown,Golden, or Hawthorne)-Gay

With the league being so pass heavy, I would like to see what Shark could do as the LB next to Timmy in the nickle and dime. Most of those plays are likely going to be passes anyway, so why not have an ILB that can cover and run with anyone?

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Originally Posted by JUST-PLAIN-NASTY

Here's my thought. I HOPE Worilds lives up to expectations. I HOPE Jones is as advertised and they find a way to get him on the field. That would be "best case" scenario. That would be a win-win. I don't think Jones will have enough playing strength to beat out Worilds as a starter but I do think he will show enough to get on the field in sub packages.

DimeWoodley-Keisel-JonesTimmons-WorildsTaylor-Allen-Polamalu-Clark-(DVD,Brown,Golden, or Hawthorne)-Gay

At Keisel's age, I don't see him being used in the base 3-4 and the nickel and the dime. We'll see more of Heyward rotating in this year than in the past to keep him fresh. McLendon also has a better chance of playing in specialty defenses than Hampton did, because they are different types of NT's.

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Originally Posted by RuthlessBurgher

At Keisel's age, I don't see him being used in the base 3-4 and the nickel and the dime. We'll see more of Heyward rotating in this year than in the past to keep him fresh. McLendon also has a better chance of playing in specialty defenses than Hampton did, because they are different types of NT's.

Agree 100% about Keisel but it will be by series rotation not sub packages imo. Meaning, Keisel will start and be the base & rush DL in nickel & dime. When Heyward rotates into a series, he will be base & rush DL in his series. That is really the best way to get rotation work. The only way I see Keisel not being on the field in subs is if he dropped off. I didn't see it last year but this is a new season.

I agree Mclendon can play in subs. We saw him last year in subs when teams went 2 minute. He definitely gives the DL more flexibility.